Simon Cowell Opens Up About Therapy, Mental Health Struggles
By Movieguide® Contributor
Simon Cowell recently opened up about his struggle with depression and why he’s grateful for therapy.
“I’ve suffered from depression over the years…but that was just something I just thought, ‘Well, that’s my character trait,” he shared. “’I get down,’ and it’s something you deal with.”
On The Mirror’s “Men in Mind” podcast, Cowell recalled his change of heart.
“If you’d said to me, ‘Simon, we’re going to be sitting down… in your garden, talking about mental health,’ I’d be going, ‘Have I lost my mind or something?'” he shared.
The AMERICA’S GOT TALENT judge shared that the anxiety of COVID really caused him to self-reflect.
“I suppose COVID was the real catalyst…The whole world was affected by something. We all were afraid of—I mean, genuinely afraid of. I was petrified about it, by the way…I think it was during that time period that I started to think about things in a different way,” he said.
“In the very, very, very early stages, some friends of mine got really ill. And I’m talking about really ill,” he said, which only exacerbated his fears of the virus. “So, I thought, ‘God, if I catch this, maybe the same thing’s going to happen to me.'”
Eventually, Cowell caught COVID, and it was mild for him.
When the world began to open up again, Cowell realized he had been good at taking care of his physical health but had neglected his mental health.
“So, I started to read up about stuff, teach myself. Then fortunately…met some friends who had therapy, benefited from therapy. And that’s when I thought, ‘You know what? I’ve kind of looked after my body through diet and exercise…pretty well over the years, but what have I done about my brain and my mind?’” he added.
Cowell made an appointment with a therapist.
“Within about 20 minutes, it was as if I’d known him for 10, 20 years,” he explained. He put me so much at ease. And you realize you’re talking to a professional, you know. And they don’t judge you. They listen to you.”
“I wish I had done this 10 or 20 years ago,” Cowell shared, according to MSN, “it’s like a weight has lifted off my shoulders.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Cowell:
Simon Cowell rose to prominence in the United States as a brutal judge on the AMERICAN IDOL stage. Now, his harsh words have made their way to AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, as audiences often “boo” his scathing critiques.
Except … many of the critiques in recent years haven’t been as vitriolic as his reputation suggests….
Cowell credits his son for softening his heart and connecting more with the contestants he sees on stage.
“I have a son, I have much more empathy for the younger acts,” Cowell told Fox News.”The truth is you want everyone to succeed. I just get frustrated when people … don’t do well or make their own decision … It’s frustrating.”
The infamous judge says he really does want the contestants to succeed.
“You pray every year that you could find someone great, and they’re going to have a great career afterward. I have a feeling that’s going to happen to our artists tonight,” Cowell said.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
